Probably the most memorable maintenance incident Belgian jet and turboprop operator ASL's Bernard Biquet has come up against involved assisting a pilot to start an Embraer Xingu's engines with a GPU (via the external power connector on the fuselage near the nose landing gear and left engine).

Biquet did not realise the pilot had removed the chocks. "The pilots first started the right engine followed directly by the left. When the propellers were going out of feather, the aircraft started to move forward – the pilot had forgotten to set the parking brakes.

"I tried to draw his attention by knocking on the fuselage but it was too late and time for me to leave the area."

Turning around, Biquet realised he was stuck between the aircraft and the power unit with the aircraft still moving. "Finally, I found an exit and ran away just as the propeller struck the GPU. At last the pilot realised the problem and shut both engines down.

"This event gave me a dreadful fright and an engine and a propeller replacement to plan."

For Biquet it was a reminder how dangerous an aircraft can be and how important it is to follow the safety procedures.